Press Digest: Russia will take no part in Syrian combat operations – Putin

Sept 28 2015

Alexandra Guzeva

RBTH

Putin and American journalist Charlie Rose. Source: Reuters

RBTH presents a selection of views from leading Russian media on international events, featuring an interview given by Russian President Vladimir Putin to U.S. TV channels CBS and PBS, as well as reports on the ban on Russian airlines using Ukrainian airspace and the continuing anti-government protests in Moldova.

Putin gives interview to U.S. TV
channels

One of top stories for the Russian
media is the interview
that Russian President Vladimir Putin gave to Charlie Rose for the U.S. TV
channels CBS and PBS ahead of his participation in the 70th session of the UN
General Assembly on Sept 28.

The official daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta
says that in that interview Putin:

1) outlined how the Syrian problem
can be resolved: "There is no other solution to the Syrian crisis than
strengthening the existing lawful government structures and rendering them help
in fighting terrorism,” he said, at the same time urging them to engage in a positive
dialogue with the “rational opposition.”

2) gave assurances that Russia has no
intention of taking part in combat operations on Syrian territory or in any
other country.

3) pointed at the part the United
States had played in toppling Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych: "Our
partners in the United States are not trying to hide the fact that they
supported those opposed to President Yanukovych."

On the subject of his popularity in
Russia, Putin attributed it to the fact that he and other citizens of Russia
have one thing in common, their love for their motherland.

Ukraine introduces air traffic
sanctions against Russia

On Sept. 25, it was announced that –
starting from Oct. 25 – Russian airlines are banned from carrying out
flights to Ukraine or via Ukrainian airspace, writes
the Kommersant business daily.

The publication points out that
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the decree introducing sanctions
against Russian companies back on Sept. 16, without however spelling them out.

"Kommersant sources in both
countries did not rule out that, given the inevitable losses to be sustained by
local market players and Moscow's retaliatory steps, Kiev would limit itself to
banning just transit flights over Ukraine."

The paper cites Russian airlines as
saying that they have not yet received any official notification from Kiev and
flights to Ukraine are continuing as normal.

Currently, regular flights to Kiev,
Lviv and Odessa operate from Moscow, St Petersburg and Surgut. Once the ban and
Russia's retaliatory steps come into effect, airports in Ukraine will sustain
direct and indirect losses of over $10 million a day, writes Kommersant, while
neglecting to say how the loss of this traffic will affect the finances of
Russian airlines.

Left-wing parties stage protest in
Chisinau

A correspondent from the Regnum news
agency reports from
a thousands-strong protest staged by left-wing parties in the Moldovan capital
Chisinau. Igor Dodon, leader of the Party of Socialists, listed the protesters'
demands: the resignation of President Nicolae Timofti and an early election.

"Today we are starting the
liberation of Moldova," declared Dodon.

Regnum points out that not far from
the venue of the left-wing rally, another protest, organized by the DA platform
(Demnitate si adevar, Dignity and Truth), has entered its third week already.
The two opposition camps are pursuing different goals: DA calls for stepping up
"European integration,” while the left urges closer ties with Russia and
integration with the Customs Union.